Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Jurisdiction Of Gen. G. Encampment Of The United States
Surely it would , strictly speaking , be un-Masonic for any Grand Lodge to grant a warrant to hold a Lodge in any country Avithout the previous consent of the government of that country . It would be establishing a secret society in that country ; and if admissible as respects Masonry , it might be allowable as respects other secret societies . It is true that a Mason's Lodge is not a political society ,
and that , by the Constitutions of the Order , politics are forbidden ; and in the charge delivered to a Mason on his initiation , he is exhorted to pay obedience to the laAvs of the State Avhich , for the time being , may be the place of his abode ; but instances have occurred , when that principle has been forgotten and disregarded by Masons , and their Lodges have been the very hotbeds for disseminating revolutionary princiles . What assurance can any Grand
p Lodge feel , that by tbe introduction of Masonry into a country it may not ultimatel y be the cause of overturning its goA'ernment ? If all Masons were to act on the principles which the correspondent from Hamilton considers himself bound by , there Avould be almost an end to intercourse between Masons of different countries . Many foreign Masons would not be admitted into English Lodgesand
, English Masons would be excluded from many foreign Lodges . Tbe reasons are well known to those who are accustomed to meet foreign Masons . E .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Jurisdiction Of Gen. G. Encampment Of The United States
Surely it would , strictly speaking , be un-Masonic for any Grand Lodge to grant a warrant to hold a Lodge in any country Avithout the previous consent of the government of that country . It would be establishing a secret society in that country ; and if admissible as respects Masonry , it might be allowable as respects other secret societies . It is true that a Mason's Lodge is not a political society ,
and that , by the Constitutions of the Order , politics are forbidden ; and in the charge delivered to a Mason on his initiation , he is exhorted to pay obedience to the laAvs of the State Avhich , for the time being , may be the place of his abode ; but instances have occurred , when that principle has been forgotten and disregarded by Masons , and their Lodges have been the very hotbeds for disseminating revolutionary princiles . What assurance can any Grand
p Lodge feel , that by tbe introduction of Masonry into a country it may not ultimatel y be the cause of overturning its goA'ernment ? If all Masons were to act on the principles which the correspondent from Hamilton considers himself bound by , there Avould be almost an end to intercourse between Masons of different countries . Many foreign Masons would not be admitted into English Lodgesand
, English Masons would be excluded from many foreign Lodges . Tbe reasons are well known to those who are accustomed to meet foreign Masons . E .